Israir Airlines Boarding Pass and Check-In Times

On Israir flights, online check-in opens ahead of departure and stays available until a set cutoff before takeoff, which is shorter on domestic flights to Eilat than on international routes. Check the exact time shown on your booking, since it takes priority over any general rule, and it is best to plan around the earliest window given.

At the airport, cutoffs are stricter than at many other departure points from Israel. Security checks at Ben Gurion take time, so allow a comfortable margin before your departure time, following the check-in time stated on your confirmation. Check-in and bag drop counters close before takeoff, sometimes earlier at certain connecting airports where Israir is represented by a local handling agent.

A passenger who arrives after the counter has closed will not be accepted on the flight, even if they already hold a boarding pass.

Online check-in is done through the Israir Airlines website, using your booking reference (a six-character code) and the passenger's name, or your ticket number. The system then asks you to confirm your travel document details, then to select or keep your seat.

The boarding pass is sent by email as a PDF and can also be downloaded at the end of the process. On some international destinations, local authorities or the departure airport may require a paper copy, so check the rule in place at your departure airport. On routes to countries with visa or stricter entry requirements, online check-in can be blocked and redirected to the counter, where an agent will need to check your passport and entry authorisation.

Points to check before confirming:

Online check-in does not remove the need to go through the counter once a bag needs to go in the hold. With Israir, the baggage allowance depends on the fare purchased, with the size, weight and number of bags allowed shown on your booking confirmation. An extra bag bought in advance generally costs less than one paid for at the airport.

Musical instruments, sports equipment or a wheelchair need to be declared in advance to customer service, not at the online check-in stage. Passengers travelling with an infant, a pet in the cabin or requiring special assistance are also directed to the counter.

Allow time for the security interview when departing from Tel Aviv, as it comes before baggage check-in and can noticeably extend your time in the departures area.

A few situations come up often:

• The booking reference is rejected: this is sometimes the travel agency's file number rather than Israir's own reference. The six-character code appears on the confirmation sent by the airline.
• Check-in is unavailable: the window has not opened yet, or the booking has something that needs sorting out first, such as a document, a paid option, or a flight operated by another airline.
• The boarding pass does not arrive: check your spam folder and the email address entered at booking, then try downloading it again from your booking management page.
• A misspelled name cannot be corrected online: you will need to contact Israir customer service before departure.

Travellers who prefer can have their check-in handled by iBoardingPass, a paid service independent of the airlines, which then sends the boarding pass by email.

Rules differ from one carrier to another at the same airports. See the details for El Al check-in, the Emirates procedure, Etihad Airways guidance or Gulf Air check-in.